Bible League: Living His Word "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."In many places in the Bible we are told not to worry, or be anxious, or be fearful about what the future may hold. Indeed, the Apostle Paul said that we shouldn't be anxious about anything (Philippians 4:6). Apart from the torment they put us through, the trouble with worry, anxiety, and fear is that they are a waste of time. Instead of spending our time dealing with what we have been called to do today, we waste it by worrying and being anxious about how we will deal with what we have to do tomorrow. Although there is nothing wrong with making plans for the future, there is a lot wrong with worrying and being anxious about the future. Life in Christ is meant to be lived day by day. Tomorrow is tomorrow and should be dealt with then. Today is today and should be dealt with now. All of us have plenty to do today. It needs everything we have to give to it. Worry and anxiety about tomorrow interfere with what is present before us; they add nothing to our purpose in life; they hold us back in every respect. Christians have been given the Holy Spirit and the Spirit energizes and equips us for everything we have been called by God to do. One might say that we have been anointed by the Holy Spirit to do whatever it is we have to do. The anointing we have for today, however, is for today, not for tomorrow. The anointing for tomorrow will come tomorrow. If we have worry and anxiety about tomorrow, it is a good indication that we have moved on ahead of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. We are then operating in the strength of our own power and are then trying to figure everything out on our own. Consequently, we worry and have anxiety because we have placed the cares and concerns of tomorrow on our own shoulders, instead of relying on the strength and enablement of the Holy Spirit. God's grace and anointing are for today. Don't waste today worrying and being anxious about tomorrow. Cast your anxieties about the future on God, because He cares for you (I Peter 5:7). Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading2 Kings 1, 2, 3 2 Kings 1 -- Moab Rebels; Ahaziah Judged by Elijah and Succeeded by Jehoram NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Kings 2 -- Elijah Taken to Heaven and Succeeded by Elisha NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Kings 3 -- Jehoram Meets Moab's Rebellion NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading John 3:22-36 John 3 -- Jesus Teaches Nicodemus: You Must be Born Again; John's Testimony about Jesus NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Seek the LORD while you can find him.Call on him now while he is near. Insight Isaiah tells us to call on the Lord while he is near. God is not planning to move away from us, but we often move far from him or erect a barrier between ourselves and him. Challenge Don't wait until you have drifted far away from God to seek him. Later in life turning to him may be far more difficult. Or God may come to judge the earth before you decide to turn to him. Seek God now, while you can, before it is too late. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Joshua 1:7 Only be thou strong and very courageous.Our God's tender love for his servants makes him concerned for the state of their inward feelings. He desires them to be of good courage. Some esteem it a small thing for a believer to be vexed with doubts and fears, but God thinks not so. From this text it is plain that our Master would not have us entangled with fears. He would have us without carefulness, without doubt, without cowardice. Our Master does not think so lightly of our unbelief as we do. When we are desponding we are subject to a grievous malady, not to be trifled with, but to be carried at once to the beloved Physician. Our Lord loveth not to see our countenance sad. It was a law of Ahasuerus that no one should come into the king's court dressed in mourning: this is not the law of the King of kings, for we may come mourning as we are; but still he would have us put off the spirit of heaviness, and put on the garment of praise, for there is much reason to rejoice. The Christian man ought to be of a courageous spirit, in order that he may glorify the Lord by enduring trials in an heroic manner. If he be fearful and fainthearted, it will dishonor his God. Besides, what a bad example it is. This disease of doubtfulness and discouragement is an epidemic which soon spreads amongst the Lord's flock. One downcast believer makes twenty souls sad. Moreover, unless your courage is kept up, Satan will be too much for you. Let your spirit be joyful in God your Saviour, the joy of the Lord shall be your strength, and no fiend of hell shall make headway against you; but cowardice throws down the banner. Moreover, labor is light to a man of cheerful spirit; and success waits upon cheerfulness. The man who toils, rejoicing in his God, believing with all his heart, has success guaranteed. He who sows in hope shall reap in joy; therefore, dear reader, "be thou strong, and very courageous." Daily Light on the Daily Path John 10:27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;Revelation 3:20 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 1 Samuel 3:10 Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for Your servant is listening." Luke 19:5,6 When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, "Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house." • And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly. Psalm 85:8 I will hear what God the LORD will say; For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones; But let them not turn back to folly. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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